BY AARON STELLA Forget the fact that we were born with two ears and one mouth; let’s get real people, homo-sapiens love to yak; dark corners of smoky pubs especially included (oh how I miss thee, smoky pub). And supernatural folk tales usually make for amusing fare. But the questions stands, as it always will: what’s up with the story and its teller? Starting tomorrow, The Curio Theater Company will be forking out the insides of raconteurs and their confab (pub-life included) in their production of Irish playwright Conor McPherson’s “The Weir.” As an insufferable yakker myself, I had to […]
PAPERBOY: Slow-Jamming The Alt-Weeklies
BY DAVE ALLEN Like time, news waits for no man. Keeping up with the funny papers has always been an all-day job, even in the pre-Internets era. These days, however, it’s a two-man job. That’s right, these days you need someone to do your reading for you, or risk falling hopelessly behind and, as a result, increasing your chances of dying lonely and somewhat bitter. That’s why every week PAPERBOY does your alt-weekly reading for you. We pore over those time-consuming cover stories and give you the takeaway, suss out the cover art, warn you off the ink-wasters and steer […]
LETTER FROM TOKYO: Asian Kids Vs. White Kids
An observational study on the differences between western and Asian students studying in Japan by Eva Liao TOKYO, JAPAN — I’m in class for four hours a day, which means I am bored to the brink of insanity 20 hours a week. I’m amazed I’m not bald from pulling my hair out from the roots. There’s nothing else to do but to analyze the people in my classes. Forgoing political correctness for a stint, I must say, it’s truly amazing how clear-cut some stereotypes really are. The subjects: Korean, Taiwanese, Chinese, Thai, Indian, French, British, Italian, German, Canadian, and American […]
BENSALEM 911: It Took FIVE Cops To Bust Woman Allegedly Offering Sex-For-World-Series-Tickets
NEW YORK POST: Within an hour of posting the ad, Finkelstein recounted, she heard from a man who said he was a construction worker and claimed to have an extra ticket. Finkelstein wanted to meet “somewhere I’d feel safe,” so she agreed to go to Bucks County to meet at Manny Brown’s, a popular bar and restaurant. “He had a couple of beers, and he bought me one,” Finkelstein said. They then started talking. “We were jovial, friendly, joking —the normal kind of conversation you would have sitting with someone you just met.” Citing the pending charges, Finkelstein declined to […]
WORLD SERIES: Who You Callin’ ‘Frillies’ Now?
GAME ONE: Phillies 6, Yankees 1
THE EARLY WORD: The Bloodsucker Proxy
Traverse Arts Project announces its second annual Nosferatu Screening, featuring African American Woman Organist T. Desiree Hines on Friday October 30th at the First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut Street. Tickets for each regular performance are $10 per person, and $5.00 for students and seniors. More information about the event may be found at www.traversetheater.org/nosferatu.htm. T. Desiree Hines is most familiar to Philadelphia from several articles and stories written about her life as an African-American Transsexual woman who is an accomplished Classical Organist. Among her achievements is being the soloist at the 2008 Summer Solstice Celebration on the Fred J. Cooper […]
COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN: On Sunday Cops Start Cracking Down On Cell-Phoning Drivers
DAILY NEWS: Texters and hand-held cell phoners may experience an unpleasant surprise next week if they continue using their gizmos while driving, cycling, or even skateboarding. That’s because on Sunday, Philadelphia police will begin enforcing an ordinance that bans the use of hand-held phones while driving, said police spokesman Lt. Frank Vanore. “We’re going to do a heavy month of education where you’re going to see . . . warnings going out,” Vanore, said. Those warnings will be issued through November, he said. Then, on Dec. 1, police will begin issuing code violations that will carry a $75 fine. Bluetooth […]
CONCERT REVIEW: Pearl Jam At The Spectrum
[Photos by FELICIA PERRETTI] BY ADAM BONANNI Pearl Jam know they had their work cut out for them: to send the Spectrum beyond the clouds and somewhere over the rainbow to reunite with Veterans Stadium in that great arena final resting place in the sky. “We’re not the cleanup crew” Eddie Vedder exclaimed between songs Tuesday night at said Spectrum, alluding to the fact that Springsteen closed out his series with a four-hour banger the other week. Not to be outdone,Vedder made a bold claim: “By Saturday night, we’re gonna try to play every song we know…and that may include […]
THE EARLY WORD: Walk The Line
PREVIOUSLY: The crowd, all demonstrably fans of thick frames and cardigans, swayed and lost themselves in what felt like a new New Wave manifesto for the ears. Politely thanking their fans for showing up and being “awesome,” Berman took the time to gush about his affections for Philly’s one and only R-5, recalling all the shows he attended as a teen prior to his days of indie stardom. “Young Adult Friction,” recently released as the band’s second video via music blogs and myspace, got showgoers rocking out like Ian Curtis rose from the dead. Lyrically alluring and audibly contagious, the […]
WORLD SERIES: Bensalem Woman Arrested For Offering To Trade Sex For Series Tickets
INQUIRER: Bensalem police said they arrested a Philadelphia woman Tuesday after she offered to perform various sex acts to an undercover officer in exchange for tickets. According to police, Susan Finkelstein, 43, posted an ad on Craigslist that read: “DESPERATE BLONDE NEEDS WS TIX (Philadelphia) “Diehard Phillies fan—gorgeous tall buxom blonde—in desperate need of two World Series Tickets. Price negotiable— I’m the creative type! Maybe we can help each other!” An undercover officer responded to the ad, police said, and arrested Finkelstein after she made her offer. MORE PHAWKER: This is the best use of severely limited police resources? Really? […]
WORLD SERIES: When Frank Rizzo Met Joe DiMaggio
From To Every Thing a Season: Shibe Park and Urban Philadelphia, 1909-1976 By Bruce Kuklick:
DOPE: Finding A New Thrill On Pill Hill
BY JEFF DEENEY FOR THE DAILY BEAST If you want to know which prescription drugs are trading on the black market, take a ride up to 17th and Jefferson in North Philadelphia, aka “Pill Hill,” a corner dedicated to the sale of diverted pharmaceuticals. These days on Pill Hill, there’s a good chance you’ll get sold some Seroquels, also known on the street as ’Quells or Suzie-Qs. A powerful antipsychotic intended to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Seroquel can have serious side effects including diabetes, a permanent Parkinson’s-like palsy called tardive dyskinesia, and sudden cardiac death. Despite this, it’s increasingly […]
RANT: A Pox Upon The House Of Yankees!
BY HEWHOCANNOTBENAMED Be it hereby announced. A pox upon all of your houses for your Yankee fandom. While I am ordinarily a Yankee-hater, John has fueled a new level of hate and vitriol in me because he called me last night and said “Man, it’s been soooo long since the Yankees have been in the World Series.” To me. A Cubs fan. And didn’t see a hint of irony in it. I hope A-Rod’s arm falls off and Cashman quits to be replaced by Steve Phillips. I hope senile old George Steinbrenner breaks out of the nursing home bed he’s […]